Developing Our Area’s Talent

Carver Pump partnered with EICC to build a reliable workforce. Through the Iowa Jobs Training (260F) and Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training (260E) programs, Carver was able to reskill existing employees and train new hires.

• 260F provides state-funded forgivable loans for workforce training, requiring only a 30% company match. In fiscal 2024 alone, EICC helped 17 companies train 266 workers.
• 260E supports expanding businesses by covering training costs for new employees, repaid through state payroll taxes. In fiscal 2024, EICC trained 251 new workers for seven area companies.
• Registered apprenticeships allow employees to gain hands-on experience while earning a nationally recognized credential.

“EICC began helping us fill our workforce pipeline through welder and machinist apprenticeship programs,” said Carver’s COO, Mark Post. Today, over 45% of its production workforce are graduates of EICC’s programs.

The partnership with EICC has strengthened Carver Pump’s workforce. Employees like Gabe Bender, a precision machinist, have seen the benefits firsthand. “When you take people and educate them, you are doing something good for the community and giving them purpose,” he said.

Post noted the long-term impact: “These programs are instrumental in meeting our staffing needs.” 

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) Business Solutions consultants worked closely with Nestlé Purina to develop Project Opportunity; a training program tailored specifically to the company’s needs.

Key elements include:

• Custom courses selected jointly by Nestlé’s maintenance manager and EICC.

• Hands-on experience across four primary maintenance areas: electrical, packing mechanics, mill fitting, and facilities.

• A training schedule built into employees' paid work time.

The training program launched in 2023. So far, 14 Nestlé Purina employees have completed, or are in the process of completing, the training. All but four were internal transfers, significantly improving staffing stability and employee morale, Determan said. 

“The partnership has strengthened our maintenance team with qualified, confident technicians. We're able to upskill current employees who already understand our operations, building their confidence. Communication with EICC has been excellent—open and responsive, even adding classes as needed. The partnership is ongoing, with another session starting soon,” she said. 

“We plan to continue using the program because it’s been incredibly successful,” Determan added. 

A Partnership That Worked  

North Campus Technician Jeff Wanzek exemplifies the success of this training partnership. After seven years as a line operator, he transitioned into a maintenance role through Project Opportunity. Then, he completed three more courses to earn an associate in applied science degree from EICC. 

“The ease of managing my time and supportive structure made a huge difference,” Wanzek said. “I wanted to show my appreciation for the opportunity and demonstrate how serious I was about succeeding.”

Nestlé Purina’s commitment to employee development, combined with EICC's skilled training programs, created a sustainable workforce solution. Explore how EICC’s Business Solutions team and modular training programs can help your company build a skilled, confident workforce.

A nine-month, 580-hour training program was launched later that year. Now in its sixth year, the program — administered through Muscatine Community College takes Tyson’s unskilled workers and trains them in industrial maintenance technology.

Workers go to class in the mornings and work at the plant in the afternoons. They agree to work for Tyson for two years and earn wages that are more than double the average per capita income for their areas.

Tyson officials are thrilled with the success of their customized training program, noting they’ve been able to build a skilled workforce of local employees.

The program boasts high graduation rates. Plus, employees are eligible for promotions and higher pay upon completion.

The company also donates $15,000 a year to EICC’s workforce training efforts. In 2020, it also donated several pieces of hydraulic and mechanical training equipment.

“We are proud to have invested with EICC, in funding and equipment, to drive technical education,” said Brent McElroy, a Tyson plant manager.

EICC talked to Klim about the state’s job training programs, which are administered through community colleges. The conversation was the beginning of a great relationship.

EICC helped train Klim’s new employees by building a smaller version of the plant’s plastic injection machine at EICC's Blong Technology Center. A training schedule was created for Sterilite’s new employees, and the process began. Additional classes were later added. Now, new hires complete a variety of classes, such as online plastics training and forklift operation, at the technology center.

Sterilite’s Davenport startup process ramped up, and the plant opened in 2018.

“The college district’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to our training needs has been invaluable,” Klim said.